Carrier for receiving and releasing a substantially flat article



H. WIDMAIER Jan. 3, 1961 CARRIER FCR RECEIVING AND RELEASINC A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT ARTICLE Original Filed Aug. 26. 1954 United States Patent CARRIER FOR' RECEIVING AND RELEASING A sUsrANrIALLY FLAI ARTICLE Hans Widmaier, Togo-Strasse 76, Berlin, Germany Original application Aug. 26, 1954, Ser. No. 452,379,

now Patent No. 2,861,369, dated Nov. 25, 1958. Dlvided and this application Apr. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 730,622

Claims priority, application Germany Dec. 30, 1949 Claims. (Cl. 40-159) The invention relates to holders and carriers defining pockets, envelopes or like enclosures for stamps and similar flat articles including labels and prints. Th1s application contains subject matter disclosed in copending application Serial No. 452,379, led August 26, 1954, entitled Carriers or Pockets for Stamps and Similar Flat Articles.

The invention particularly relates to considerably improved carrier or holder structures in which the pockets are each provided with a transparent cover leaf and a back leaf joined to each other as by welding or other bonding means so as to retain stamps or similar at objects in place when inserted therein.

Stamps and similar fiat objects are conveniently mounted in albums or other books by means of a holder or carrier having an adhesive strip on its underside with the carrier being provided with an aperture for receiving the stamp or similar flat object. If the carrier were made of transparent and therefore exceedingly thin material, the objects would not be properly held in the envelope since it would prove too flat. On the other hand, while the requisite clamping action for holding the stamp in place `could be obtained by the use of hard paper or thin cardboard, such materials are opaque and therefore useless for the purpose.

Of course, relatively thin strips of transparent material have been proposed but these are unsatisfactory due to the fact that an album employ-ing such thin carriers would bulge undesirably. In this regard attempts have been made to construct carriers which can exert a clamp ing action by the use of transparent cover or front leaves of cellophane connected to respective back leaves, such as paper or similar sheet material. When placing such carriers or envelopes in albums, however, the space taken up by these envelopes is excessive. For example, when used in an album having 50 sheets or 100 pages, the thickness of the stamps alone would be approximately mm. Each envelope with the prior art transparent covers, however, is about 0.15 mm. thick and consequently the total thickness of stamps and envelope is about 25 mm., which thickness must be taken up by the binding of the album and which causes undesirable bulging. Moreover, if the cover leaf of the envelope is bent under the rear or back leaf, another 5 mm. thickness is added.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide means facilitating insertion and display of stamps, bank notes, labels, or like at articles in a carrier of greatly reduced thickness.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means affording retention of flat articles, whereby same may be viewed through a transparent cover leaf for display and which, though of reduced thickness,`clamp ingly holds a stamp or similar flat article in a secure manner against a back leaf.

It is still another object of the invention to provide means rendering it possible to store and retain substan- 2,966,756 Patented Jan. 3, 1961 ICC 2 tially flat articles, such as postage stamps for collectors, or the like in a carrier which is devoid of any marked bulginess and consequently will not'cause an album in which they are mounted to bulge unnecessarily.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide means conducive to a durable and highly practical carrier or holder for displaying a collection of stamps or the like, which carrier is light in weight, may be readily conformed to any suitable configuration of any suitable support, such as an album, and which effectively protects stamps and like articles against damage and spoilage.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of means for protecting stamps or the like employing springy and elastic strip or foil material, such as polystyryl resin, which efiiciently and clampingly holds the article for display in a substantially at condition protecting the serrated, perforated or imperforate edges of the article.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means for hardening the surface of a carrier for fiat article so as Ito reduce the possibility of scratching the surface, while also reducing the reflecting power and the electrostatic charging power of the material employed to assure greater visibility and greater protection for the stamp or other fiat article being displayed.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a coating solution for use in coating carriers and like articles so as to increase the hardness and scratch resisting properties of the surface of the article while lreducing the reflecting power and the electrostatic charging power of the surface treated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means affording a carrier for stamps and the like which due to its construction automatically exerts a predetermined clamping action on a stamp or like flat article enclosed therein, thereby ensuring automatic straightening out of the article to a substantially at condition.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide means facilitating ready insertion in and removal of one or more flat articles in side-by-side relation in regard to a space provided between cover and backing leaves which constitute said carrier.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to' provide means enhancing the retention of the article in the carrier, different materials and curvatures for the cover leaf and for the back leaf, respectively, being employed and different thicknesses for the cover leaf and back leaf being selected -to thereby regulate the springiness of the same.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide means regulating the gap between back leaf and front or cover leaf of the carrier commensurate with the thickness of the article to be displayed, one of said leaves being offset with respect to the other leaf thereby obtaining a tendency of said leaves to automatically close one upon the other.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means aiming at a particular reinforced construction of the free edges of the carrier or envelope, which normally are subjected to manipulation for closing and opening said carrier.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means facilitating the enclosure of oneor more substantially flat articles in a closable carrier provided with a pressure-adhesive or like means.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide means serving the purpose of removably or detachably connecting adjacent edges of coverY and back leaves for closing said carrier and for facilitating re-v peated insertion and removal of articles to be displayed by said carrier.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide means utilizing an opening in the form of a slot in .one of the leaves and situated substantially midway of the height of said one leaf, to facilitate insertion of an article in and removal from said carrier.

.Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means aiding Yin `a simplified and effective construction of a carrier or envelope for substantially at articles, whereby the article or artices will be held practically undisplaceable under certain clamping conditions derived from the material and configuration of the top or cover and rear or backing leaves forming said carrier.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide means improving certain optical characteristics (magnification, clearness) of transparent material, as used Yin carriers for retaining and exhibiting stamps and like at objects, and to provide further means minimizing the possibility of scratches on the exposed surface ofthe material, thus preserving other desirable characteristics while also reducing light reflection power of said surface so as to permit the object to be more clearly viewed therethrough.

These together with various ancillary objects and fea tures of the invention will become more apparent as the following detailed description proceeds, preferred embodirnents of the invention being shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view, partly in section, of a carrier embodying the invention and adapted to retain a stamp or the like in the pocket thereof;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a modified carrier provided with an offset cover leaf;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through another modified carrier having both a curved cover and a curved back leaf;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the envelope 0r carrier of Fig. 3 mounted on a page of a stamp album and enclosing a stamp;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through a further modification of a carrier having an enlarged clamping jaw and an offset cover leaf;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a yet modified carrier provided with selectively interengageable formations on the cover and back leaves, respectively;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the carrier of Fig- 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a still modified form of the invention wherein the back leaf is provided with acurved upper edge for retention of the cover leaf;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the form of carrier shown in Fig. 8;

Eig. 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention wherein the cover leaf is provided with avtongue engageable with a corresponding slot in the back leaf for retention purposes;

Fig. 1l is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the longitudinal median line of the carrier shown in Fig. l0;

Fig. 12 is a front view of a page of the album having mounted thereon a plurality of carriers produced in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line A-A in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 showing the carrier as it appears when the stamp is to be inserted therein or removed therefrom; and

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a strip from which the car riers, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, can be cut.

Fig. 16 is a rear plan view of a strip on a reduced slctale employable in carriers according to Figs. 13 and` Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there are disc'osed carriers in the form of envelopes E affixed t o an album page S.

Fig. 1 shows a transparent cover leaf 1 which is joined to a back leaf 2 by an adhesive or welded seam 3.

assays@ .Y Y Y t r Between cover leaf 1 and back leaf 2 a postal stamp or label is inserted. The cover and back leaves are formed of resilient, non-hygroscopic resinous foil material, such as polymers of styrene and substitution or combination products thereof substantially free from unpoymerized monomer. The `resinous material is extruded, drawn or otherwise shaped into wide bands of `material and thereafter cut into narrower widths of suitable length.

The seam or line of juncture 3 is formed by moistening a foil along a longitudinal edge with a solvent for the resinous material, such as xylene to soften the .polystyrene. By pressing the complementary foil against the moistened edge, the two foils thus constituting a `U-shaped strip material are welded together at a seam as strong as the foil itself. As seen in Fig. l, the cover and back leaves, 1, 2 of the envelope resulting from cutting of the welded foils into relatively short lengths form legs of a U-shaped assembly and are shown in a position to diverge from each other to provide a wedge-shaped space having its apex at the seam 3.

By inserting the stamp or similar at article O into the space as .far as possible toward and adjacent the seam 3, the article will be wedged between the cover and back lleaves 1, 2 and will be retained therebetween against displacement, falling out or accidental movement.

The carrier shown in Fig. 3 has a cover leaf 23 and a back leaf 22 joined along seam 3b, both leaves 23 and 22 being similarly curved. When the envelope is fastened to a page S of the album, as in Figs. 4 or l2, the back leaf 22 is straightened, while the cover leaf 23 retains its curvature to thereby impart to both the front and back leaves a preload for clampingly holding in the space provided the stamp O.

The carrier shown in Fig. 5 is formed by extrusion of the resinous material employed through a nozzle corresponding in shape to the U-shaped cross-section of the carrier,` whereby the cover leaf 31 is formed integral with the back leaf 32, eliminating the need for special measures in joining the cover leaf and the back leaf. H

The new holder or carrier as hereinabove disclosed has sufficient stiffness but enough fiexibility to maintain the article, such as'labels, prints, stamps and the like, in subv stantially fiat condition, simultaneously permittingv withdrawal of the same in a most convenient and practical manner. The foil material made from resinous substances is not only elastic, but also springy, ensuring long use for an extended period of time without causing breakage and damage to the article displayed.

Due to the fact that top and back leaf may be different in character and in color (back leaf opaque or colored and front leaf transparent) and that the connecting seam may provide that one leaf is offset with respect tothe other, the clamping effect or preload imparted to said leaves by the particular shape and extent of the seam may be readily regulated or selected in accordance with the thickness and other characteristics of the article to be displayed. The inner distance between the back leaf and the front leaf corresponds approximately to the thickness or half the thickness of the article to be displayed, whether the leaves are curved and/ or plane. It is preferred that the back leaf be flat and plane. If the same is also curved as the front or top leaf, then said back leaf will generally be straightened out when affixed to a carrier or album, while the front or top leaf maintains its curvature.

In some instances it is proposed to thermically treat the top leaf and to shape the same before the connecting seam is produced. It is further possible to connect the top leaf and back leaf substantially in a plane form to subject the same after their connection along their seam to a curving or other shaping operation to attain a preload or clamping effect.

If the resinous material is shaped through casting or die-casting, the respective nozzles may be so shaped that they impart lto the leaves respective cross-sections without the necessity of any additional molding steps. Thus, it is possible to produce beading at the free edge of the pocket or to give the free edge any other suitable shape which will facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the article to be displayed.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the free edge of the rear leaf may further be shaped to accommodate the free edge of the front or top leaf under the turned over rim of said back leaf. Thus, by the creation of double clamping seams the article to be displayed is permanently undisplaceable within the carrier or pocket. Such advantages are further attained according to the embodiments shown in Figs. 10 to 14, inclusive.

According to Figs. 13 and 14, only two straight layers of foil are required to bring about insertion of the article therebetween and without requiring any folded over and like rims.

A further advantage of such structure is that only a part of the back leaf requires adhesion to an album or like carrier and that theft and other damage to the article to be displayed Will be made practically impossible.

It is preferred in many instances and in particular when applied to a stamp collectors album that the rear or back leaf be made at least partially transparent or translucent in order to clearly coincide with the eld or area to which the back leaf is to be aflixed.

It is further possible to provide indicia (ligure or catalog numbers as well as other markings or identifications) on the front face of the back leaf for collecting purposes so that the article to be inserted in the pocket of the carrier will be placed in any desired position.

As shown in Fig. l5, the carrier of Figs. 13 and 14 may be formed from an elongated strip with the cover leaf 61 welded to the back leaf 62 along weld strips or junctures indicated at `80. The carriers may be separated from each other by cuts as at 81, when desired. It is noted that the slots can be formed of any suitable size, such as indicated at 83, 84 and S5, and that the distance between the slots and the weld strips 80 may vary, as indicated by m and n, respectively.

In carrying out the invention, it is intended to provide the material used in forming the carriers with a coating for the reduction of the reflecting power and the intensification of the scratch resistance characteristics thereof and further for reducing the electrostatic charging power thereof.

As shown in Fig. 16 the carrier of Figs. 13 and 14 may also be formed from tWo elongated strips with the cover leaf welded to the back leaf along their two opposite marginal edges 63, `64 the slot 62C along the center line of the back leaf. The single carriers may be separated from such elongated preformed strips by transverse cuts.

The coating will enhance the desirable optical properties of the carrier while aiding the carrier to carry out its function of preserving a stamp or similar flat article.

In order to reduce the reflecting power of the carrier or like article which is constructed from polystyryl or other resinous transparent material, various ingredients may be employed including solutions of quartz, quartz glass and other silica carrying materials, or various synthetic plastics. The silica carrying solution is suitably treated after which the carrier is coated with the solution and the silica is precipitated thereon using a precipitating agent.

Example 1 A water-glass containing silicic acid is diluted in the proportion of 1:25 solid constituents to water. To 100 cc. of the diluted solution are added 3 cc. of a saturated solution of sulfuric acid, which is bound to albumin and l cc. of a saturated solution of citric acid. This solution is then allowed to stand for 10 to 25 days at 35 C. Into this solution are dipped the moistened or wetted surfaces of the member to be treated. Next there is precipitated with nitric acid or alcohol a silica coating on the member which is then washed with distilled water and dried. The coating obtained will result in a reecting power reduc-V tion of about 75%, and the hardness of the coating is greater than the hardness of the member prior to the treatment.

Example 2 To cc. of an aqueous solution of water glass containing silicic acid having the proportions of 1:25 of solid constituents to Water there is added an emulsifying agent, such as the sodium salt of isopropyl naphthalene sulfonic acid, and 1 cc. of a saturated solution of vinyl alcohol. This solution is then allowed to stand for l0 to 25 days at 35 C. Into this soultion there are dipped the surfaces of the member to be treated. Then, using a precipitating agent, such as nitric acid or alcohol, a silica coating on the member is precipitated. The member is then washed with distilled water and dried. The coating obtained will result in a reflecting power reduction of about 75% and the hardness of the coating is greater than the hardness of the member prior to the treatment.

Example 3 1 gram of a solution of 30% phenol formaldehyde is dissolved in cc. of alcohol. There is then added to 30 cc. of the above solution, 5 cc. of 35% strong solution of formaldehyde. With this solution the surfaces of the member to be treated are moistened or wetted. The surfaces are dried at room temperature and again moistened or wetted with a solution containing about 21/2 of tin sulphate. The transparent coating is precipitated with ammoniaand the member is then washed.`

Example 4 A wetting agent of any suitable characteristics is added to a 4% solution of ammonia sulphate. The member to be treated is moistened with this solution and then using soda-lye, a transparent coating is precipitated on the member treated.

Certain solutions may be employed which not only will provide a reduction in the reflecting power of the carrier but will result in greatly increased hardness or scratch resistance. In each of the following examples the scratch resistance or hardness of the surface is increased at least 50%, while there is at least a 50% reduction of the reflecting power.

Example 5 5 parts tetra-ethylene-ortho-silicate 5'0 parts ethyl acetate 50 parts denatured alcohol 5 parts concentrated muriatic acid Example 6 24% ethylene-glycol-mono-ethyl-ether 10% ethylene-glycol-mono-butyl-ether 16% butyl alcohol 40% denatured alcohol 5% tetra-ethylene-ortho-silicate 5% concentrated muriatic acid Example 7 94% ethylene-glycol-mono-ethyl-ether 5% tetra-ethylene-ortho-silicate 1% concentrated muriatic acid The ingredients as set forth in the respective Examples 5, 6, and 7 must be mixed in the order set forth, and the solutions have to stand before use for at least 3 to 6 days at room temperature. The objects to be coated are dipped into the solution until wet all over, taken out, the excess solution shaken off, and dried at room temperature for about one hour.

In order to reduce the electrostatic charging power of surfaces made from organic thermoplastic material, such asl polystyryl, the surfaces of the members, such asl the carriers employed in the present invention are evenly wetted with a non-dissolving uid containing a conditioning agent which is surface-active, insoluble in water, and

also containing a polymer of the thermoplastic material in a finely divided form.

As surface-active conditioning agent, for example, polyethylene and poly-ethylene-terephthalate foils are suitable, especially, alkyl-aryl-poly-glycol-ether soluble in water and of the following formua:

whereby R means a benzene nucleus, which is to be substituted by at least one alkyl or glycol-alkyl group, and x means a number between 8 to 14.

Example 8 A foil highly transparent, made of poly-ethylene 0.05 infn., thick with a medium molecular weight of 18,000 is guided through a water bath which will wet it evenly and to which has been added:

0.5% of a condensation product of iso-octyl-phenol and ethylene-oxide of the formula:

After taking the foil out of the bath, the foil is passed through 2 squeeze rollers and dried with warm air. The poly-ethylene contained in the dispersion adheres to the surface of the dry foil in the form of evenly distributed single particles. The treated foil has an electrostatic charging power of 0.03 kilovolt/ft. in comparison to 1.0 kilovolt/ft. of non-treated foils. The coefficient of friction is 0.4 compared with 0.9 for the non-treated foils. There was no deciding difference in the clearness and the appearance of the treated and the non-treated foils.

v In addition to the foregoing, it is possible to provide a coating for the carriers, which coating is capable of affording a reduction of the reecting power and the electrostatic charging power, while substantially increasing the scratch resistance and hardness of the surface of the carrier. The following two examples, 9 and l0, result in an increased hardness of about 50%, while reducing the reflecting power at least 75% and reducing the electrostatic charging power at least 50%.

Example 9 10 parts of tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate 42.5 parts of ethyl acetate 42.5 parts of denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol parts of concentrated muriatic acid To this solution there is added 0.1% to 0.5 by weight lithium-stearate.

Example 24% ethylene-glycol-mono-ethyl-ether 10% ethylene-glycol-mono-butyl-ether 16% butyl alcohol 34.9% denatured alcohol 10% tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate 5% concentrated muriatic acid 0.1% lithium-stearate It is to be noted that in the examples all parts and percentages are by weight.

The carrier or other object to be coated is dipped into either of the two solutions of Examples 9 and 10 until wet all over, taken out, the excess solution shaken off, and the object slightly warmed and then cooled. This will cause a silica coating to be achieved, of great hardness and abrasive resistance.

Thus, it can be seen that there has been defined a carrier for receiving and releasing substantially fiatarticles, which includes a cover leaf and a back leaf. The leaves are joined to each other at the opposite edges thereof and the back leaf is provided with a slot extending across the back leaf. Both of the leaves are made of a substantially springy material whereby upon bending of the leaves the slot is opened for insertion and removal of a stamp or like at article. At least the cover leaf is provided with a coating thereon increasing the hardness and scratch resistance thereof, while reducing the reflecting power and electrostatic charging power.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A carrier for receiving and releasing a substantially iiat article; comprising two spring-hard weldable leaves arranged one above the other and in mutual surface contact with each other, one of said leaves forming a transparent cover leaf, the other of said leaves being a back leaf, said cover leaf being welded to said back leaf along two opposite marginal edges thereof and being unattached at the two remaining marginal edges, so that sad leaves exert a clamping action on a flat article inserted therebetween, said back leaf being provided with a slot extending completely across said back leaf and substantially parallel to said opposite marginal edges, whereby upon bending both said leaves said slot is opened for the insertion into and removal of a flat article from between said leaves, while upon straightening both said leaves said inserted fiat article is tightly retained therebetween and both said leaves automatically close one upon the other.

2. A carrier for receiving and releasing a substantially iiat article, comprising two spring-hard weldable leaves made of polystyryl resin and arranged one above the other and in mutual surface contact with each other, one of said leaves forming a transparent cover leaf, the other of said leaves being a back leaf, said cover leaf being welded to said back leaf at two opposite marginal edges thereof so that said leaves exert a clamping action on a flat article inserted therebetween, said back leaf being provided with a slot located about midway the height of said back leaf and extending thereacross substantially parallel to said marginal edges, whereby upon bending both said leaves said slot is opened for the nsertion into and removal of a at article from between said leaves while upon straightening both said leaves said inserted flat article is tightly retained therebetween and both said leaves automatically close one upon the other, at least said cover leaf being provided with a coating thereon increasing hardness and scratch resistance while reducing reecting power and electrostatic charging power.

3. A carrier for receiving and releasing a substantially flat article, comprising two spring-hard weldable, thermoplastic iiat leaves arranged one above the other and in mutual surface contact, one of said leaves forming a cover leaf and being transparent, the other of said leaves being a back leaf, said cover leaf being welded to said back leaf along two opposite marginal edges thereof so that said leaves exert a clamping action on a flat article inserted therebetween, said back leaf being provided with a slot extending thereacross from edge to edge and parallel to said marginal edges, whereby upon bending both said leaves said slot is opened for the insertion into and removal of a at article from between said leaves, while upon straightening both said leaves said inserted flat article is tightly retained therebetween and both said leaves automatically close one upon the other.

4. A carrier for receiving and releasing a substantial- -ly iiat article, comprising two leaves, one leaf being .joined to the other at two opposite edges thereof, said one leaf being provided with a slot completely extending thereacross, said leaves being made of substantially springy and transparent non-hydroscopic material permitting bending said leaves to open said slot for the in sertion into and removal of a flat article from between said leaves while upon straightening both said leaves said inserted at article is tightly retained therebetween and both said leaves automatically close one upon the other.

5. A carrier for receiving and releasing substantially at articles comprising two elongated spaced leaves joined to one another at two parallel spaced opposite junctures and extending transversely across said leaves, one of said leaves being provided with a slot extending completely transversely across said one leaf and parallel to said junctures, both said leaves being made of substantially springy thermoplastic material so that upon bending said leaves said slot is opened for the inseltion into and removal of at articles from the space between l0 said leaves while upon straightening both said leaves said inserted at article is tightly retained therebetween and both said leaves automatically close one upon the other.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,712,088 vMellin May 7, 1929 1,976,261 Kinkead Oct. 9, 1934 2,154,510 King Apr. 18, 1939 2,179,884 Falkof Nov. 14, 1939 2,482,684 Moulton Sept. 10. 1949 2,490,263 Gaiser Dec. 6, 1949 2,496,141 Abrams Jan. 31, 1950 2,508,854 Brodsky May 23, 1950 2,634,215 Moulton Apr. 7, 1953 2,721,809 Marks Oct. 25, 1955 Ellsworth Dec. 25, 1956 

